Cancer and inflammation: differentiation by USPIO-enhanced MR imaging.

Purpose: To assess ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIO) -enhanced MR imaging for the differentiation of malignant from benign, inflammatory lesions.

Materials And Methods: In this study, approved by the local animal care committee, VX2 carcinoma and intramuscular abscesses were implanted into the hind thighs of New Zealand White rabbits. MR imaging was performed pre contrast and serially for 24 h after the injection of USPIO.

Identifying radiological needs of referring clinicians.

To provide prospective information about quality- and satisfaction-related product features in radiology, a customer-centered approach for acquiring clinicians' requirements and their prioritizations is essential. We introduced the Kano model for the first time in radiology to obtain such information. A Kano questionnaire, consisting of pairs of questions regarding 13 clinician requirements related to computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) access and report turnaround time (RTT), was developed and administered.

Novel approach to complex pulmonary arteriovenous malformation embolization using detachable coils and Amplatzer vascular plugs.

Introduction: We evaluated the feasibility of a modified embolization technique of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) using venous sac embolization with detachable coils combined with the feeding artery embolization with the Amplatzer vascular plug (AVP).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively studied technical and clinical success in the treatment of 11 complexe PAVMs. We recorded number and size of feeding arteries and draining vein, the last prior and post treatment in the follow up CT, size of PAVMs; and the number of devices needed to occlude each PAVM.

Enhancing same-day access to magnetic resonance imaging.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide better patient access to MRI within 24 hours through process improvement.

Methods: The MRI process in an academic radiology department was examined. Customer value was determined using a Kano questionnaire.

Hypersensitivity reactions and contrast medium injection: are they always related?

Background: Hypersensitivity (allergic or non-allergic) reactions that occur after contrast medium (CM) injection are usually related to the CM. Recent studies, and case reports lack the analysis of alternate causes that could be also responsible in individual cases.

Patients And Methods: We investigated the individual relevant factor/causative agent of adult patients with hypersensitivity reactions that occurred in radiological units during CM-enhanced procedures (CT, angiography, urography, or MR-examinations).

Placebo-controlled, double-blind, prospective, randomized study on the effect of octreotide LAR in the control of tumor growth in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine midgut tumors: a report from the PROMID Study Group.

Purpose: Somatostatin analogs are indicated for symptom control in patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). The ability of somatostatin analogs to control the growth of well-differentiated metastatic NETs is a matter of debate. We performed a placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase IIIB study in patients with well-differentiated metastatic midgut NETs.

Selective internal radiotherapy with Yttrium-90 microspheres for hepatic metastatic neuroendocrine tumors: a prospective single center study.

Background: To assess prospectively the safety and efficacy of Yttrium-90 microspheres in patients with unresectable liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors.

Materials And Methods: Microspheres were administered via a temporarily placed hepatic catheter. Patients were monitored prospectively.

[Determination of the arterial input function in mouse-models using clinical MRI].

Dynamic contrast enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a promising method for quantitative analysis of tumor perfusion and is increasingly used in study of cancer in small animal models. In those studies the determination of the arterial input function (AIF) of the target tissue can be the first step. Series of short-axis images of the heart were acquired during administration of a bolus of Gd-DTPA using saturation-recovery gradient echo pulse sequences.

Plasma chromogranin A as marker for survival in patients with metastatic endocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors.

Background & Aims: The prognostic role of plasma chromogranin A in patients with neuroendocrine tumors is unclear. We investigated the role of chromogranin A in predicting survival and hypothesized that chromogranin A mirrors tumor burden and that a rapid increase after a phase of stable plasma chromogranin A levels might predict exploding tumor growth.

Methods: Three hundred forty-four patients with metastatic, well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors were included.

[Dosimetric evaluation of eye lense shieldings in computed tomography examination--measurements and Monte Carlo simulations].

The present study aims at the investigation of eye lens shielding of different composition for the use in computed tomography examinations. Measurements with thermo-luminescent dosimeters and a simple cylindrical waterfilled phantom were performed as well as Monte Carlo simulations with an equivalent geometry. Besides conventional shielding made of Bismuth coated latex, a new shielding with a mixture of metallic components was analyzed.

Localisation and staging of gastrin producing tumours using cross-sectional imaging modalities.

Cross sectional imaging in the assessment of gastrinomas has three major applications: Tumor localization (sporadic gastrinoma, MEN I) in patients undergoing primary or secondary surgery. Staging of metastasized tumors, especially assessment of lymph nodes and liver metastases, possibly including a risk analysis prior to liver resection. Post-surgery follow-up and monitoring of bio- or chemotherapy.

Effectiveness and renal tolerance of multidetector helical CT with gadobutrol: results of a comparative porcine study.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the safety and effectiveness of high doses of 1 mol/L gadobutrol as a contrast agent for computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Experiments were performed according to guidelines for care of laboratory animals. The local animal care committee approved the study protocol.

Accuracy of single-session extracranial radiotherapy for simple shaped lung tumor or metastasis using fast 3-D CT treatment planning.

Background: This study is situated in the area of measuring set-up accuracy and time periods of single-session extracranial radiotherapy (SSRT) for simple-shaped targets (e.g., spherical or rotational symmetrical) definitively located in the peripheral lung.

Octreotide versus octreotide plus interferon-alpha in endocrine gastroenteropancreatic tumors: a randomized trial.

Background & Aims: The effect of octreotide plus interferon-alpha versus octreotide monotherapy on the primary study end points of time to treatment failure (progression, death, stop of study treatment) and long-term survival was investigated in patients with progressive metastatic neuroendocrine foregut (mainly pancreatic) and midgut tumors.

Methods: One hundred nine of 125 registered patients were randomized starting in January 1995, and 105 patients (51 monotherapy, 54 combination treatment) were finally analyzed in March 2000. Tumor growth was assessed at 3-month intervals by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.

Pathologic breast conditions in childhood and adolescence: evaluation by sonographic diagnosis.

Objective: The growing awareness of female breast cancer has led to increased sensitivity toward pathologic breast conditions in children and adolescents. Thus, approximately 15% of patients in child and adolescent gynecology are referred for the first time because of conspicuous features of the breast such as pain, palpable masses, and other findings on visual inspection. The aim of this study was to analyze the underlying diagnoses and diseases and determine the status of breast sonography in the diagnostic process.

Local administration of NF-kappa B decoy oligonucleotides to prevent restenosis after balloon angioplasty: an experimental study in New Zealand white rabbits.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of NF-kappa B oligonucleotides (ODN) administered by local administration with the channeled balloon catheter to prevent restenosis after balloon angioplasty in restenotic iliac arteries of New Zealand white rabbits.

Materials And Methods: In vitro, 8000 rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (rVSMC) where transfected with a liposomal carrier (TfX50) with 100 ng of decoy and scrambled ODN. Inhibition of proliferation was measured using a MTT assay after 24 hours in comparison to control.

Evaluation of a laser system for CT software simulation (EXOMIO) in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: To develop a manually movable laser system connected to the CT table for alignment of the isocenter cross of irradiation fields on the patient's skin directly after CT software simulation.

Material And Methods: The specially designed laser system was constructed in the authors' department, and the mean focusing accuracy of isocenter translations was analyzed using Alderson phantom measurements. The mean overall accuracy from setup to treatment of the whole procedure of CT software simulation was measured by the comparison of bone structures and mamma contour of the digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) with the verification film.

Effects of altering infusion parameters on intimal hyperplasia following local catheter-based delivery into the rabbit iliac artery.

Background: Efficient local gene or drug therapy requires optimized application modalities to avoid vessel damage, which might lead to increased neointimal hyperplasia. Aim of the study was to evaluate different application parameters for local delivery using the channeled balloon catheter in order to minimize vessel trauma induced by local application.

Methods And Results: Sixty cholesterol fed rabbits were randomly enrolled into twelve groups of different local application parameters: group I, application pressure 2atm/application volume 1ml physiologic saline; group II, 2atm/2ml; group III, 2atm/5ml; group IV, 4atm/1ml; group V, 4atm/2ml; group VI, 4atm/5ml.

In vitro MR imaging of regulated gene expression.

Purpose: To design and evaluate a construct that allows regulated expression of the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging reporter gene human tyrosinase under control of the tetracycline response element.

Materials And Methods: A breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was transfected with a plasmid that codes for the tetracycline-controlled transactivator and a new construct. In this construct, the reporter gene human tyrosinase is under control of the tetracycline response element, thus allowing suppression of gene expression by adding doxycycline (tetracycline switched off).

Magnetic resonance urography in pediatric urology.

Objective: To evaluate the efficiency of magnetic resonance urography (MRU) in pediatric urology.

Material And Methods: We report retrospectively on 12 children who underwent MRU between January 1999 and November 2001. MRU was performed to accurately evaluate the entire urinary tract because of megaureter, ectopic ureter, vesicoureteral reflux, Y-inverted duplication and hydronephrosis because of pyeloureteral stenosis.

1-molar gadobutrol as a contrast agent for computed tomography: results from a comparative porcine study.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate prospectively the efficacy of gadobutrol as contrast agent for computed tomography (CT) compared with iodinated contrast media in a porcine animal model.

Methods: In 8 domestic pigs (35 +/- 4 kg body weight [BW]), continuous spiral CTs of the chest and abdomen were performed using either 2 mmol/kg BW Gadovist 1.0 (1 mol/L gadobutrol) intravenously or Ultravist (300 mg I/mL iopromide) (slice 5 mm, table feed 7.

Influence of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty on transcutaneous oxygen pressure in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

Purpose: To determine in a prospective controlled trial the effect of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) on skin oxygen supply and microcirculation as measured by means of transcutaneous oxygen pressure in patients with disabling lower-limb ischemia compared with that in patients who underwent intraarterial angiography for the assessment of disabling lower-limb ischemia.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four patients (17 men, 17 women; mean age, 68.6 years +/- 9.

Comparative study of MR sialography and digital subtraction sialography for benign salivary gland disorders.

Background And Purpose: MR sialography has become an alternative imaging technique for ductal salivary gland diseases. We compared the diagnostic accuracies of MR sialography and digital subtraction sialography in patients with successful completion of both examinations and benign salivary gland disorders.

Methods: In a prospective study, we attempted to examine salivary glands in 80 patients with clinically suspected diagnoses of sialadenitis and/or sialolithiasis.

Superselective embolization with coils in high-flow priapism.

Priapism can be divided into "low-flow" veno-occlusive priapism and, especially in children, rare "high-flow" arterial priapism. We report a 5-year-old boy who developed arterial priapism after blunt perineal trauma that was successfully treated by superselective embolization with microcoils.

Magnetic resonance cystometry: accurate assessment of bladder volume with magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: To evaluate magnetic resonance hydrometry for the calculation of bladder volume. The reference standard to assess bladder volume is urethral catheterization, which may be linked with the risk of trauma and infection. Hence, ultrasonography is the preferred diagnostic method.